Apparatus for printing continuous runs of material

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for printing continuous runs of material comprises rows of nozzles extending across the path of movement of the material. Colored printing fluid is supplied to each row of nozzles, each nozzle being controlled by a valve. A program control unit controls the pressure of fluid supplied to each row of nozzles and operation of the individual valves so as to maintain the quantity of fluid applied per unit area of the material substantially constant, irrespective of the speed of movement of the material.

United States Patent 91- Messner [451 Feb. 20, 1973 APPARATUS FOR PRINTING CONTINUOUS RUNS OF MATERIAL [76] Inventor: Jakob Messner, 66 Unterschauersberg, A-4600, Wels/Thalheim, Austria [22] Filed: April 27, 1971 [21] App]. No.: 138,006

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data April 27, 1970 Germany ..P 20 20 445.9

[52] US. Cl. ..178/5.2 R, 118/624, 118/630, l78/5.4 CD, l78/6.6 R, 346/74 ES [51] Int. Cl. ..l-l04n 1/24, H04n 1/28, H04n H46 [58] Field of Search ..178/5.2 R, 6.6 R, 5.4 CD; 118/624, 630, 631; 346/74 ES [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,560,641 2/1971 Taylor et a1 ..l78/6.6R

3,564,120 2/1971 Taylor ..178/6.6 R 3,402,697 9/1968 Kock ..1 18/624 3,181,987 5/1965 Polevitzky ...178/6.6 R 2,152,077 3/1939 Meston ..1 18/630 3,247,815 4/1966 Polevitzky ..l78/5.2 R 3,523,158 8/1970 Zaphiroulos ..346/74 ES 3,135,828 6/1964 Simjian ..l78/6.6 R

Primary Examiner-Howard W. Britton Att0rney-Mason, Mason & Albright 57 ABSTRACT Apparatus for printing continuous runs of material comprises rows of nozzles extending across the path of movement of the material. Colored printing fluid is supplied to each row of nozzles, each nozzle being controlled by a valve. A program control unit controls the pressure of fluid supplied to each row of nozzles and operation of the individual valves so as to maintain the quantity of fluid applied per unit area of the material substantially constant, irrespective of the speed of movement of the material.

11 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENT E0 WOW 3,717; 722

SHEET 10F 2 FIG./

INVENTOR JAKQB WESSNER ATTO EYS PATENTEUFEBZO'ISH SHEET 2 BF 2 BCDEFGH B 0 80 C B A HEFHG E OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO 0000000000 DDDDDD D INVE NTOR RKoa mum ATT APPARATUS FOR PRINTING CONTINUOUS RUNS OF MATERIAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to apparatus for printing continuous runs of material.

An object of the present invention is to provide apparatus for printing on continuous runs of material, in.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided in apparatus for printing a continuous run of material movable along a predetermined path, a plurality of rows of nozzles, each row extending transversely of said path, valve means for controlling each nozzle, a plurality of sources of colored printing fluid, means for feeding printing fluid from said sources to said rows of nozzles, regulator means for regulating the pressure of fluid fed to each row of nozzles, and program control means responsive to the speed of movement of the material along said path and controlling said value means and said regulator means to maintain the quantity of printing fluid applied per unit area of the material,

substantially constant.

Preferably the nozzle valves are pre-set by the control means according to the program, all the pre-set valves then being opened simultaneously, the presetting of the valves being cancelled at the end of the fluid application period.

Between the individual rows of nozzles, it is desirable to fit supplementary rows in which the manner of application of the printing fluid differs from that of the main nozzles, these supplementary nozzles also being controlled by the program control means.

Preferably, in addition to controlling the pressure of the printing fluid, the program control means controls the pulse length for the valve opening times and reciprocating and pivoting movement of the rows of nozzles.

As the speed of the run of materialincreases, the pressure of the printing fluid is increased by the program control means, so that the amount of fluid applied per unit surface area is discharged in a shorter time. At the same time, the program control meansvaries the pulse length for thetime during which the valves of individual nozzles are. opened. The pressure of the printing fluid and the valve opening. times are so programmed in relation to each other that, whatever be the speed of travel of the material, theamount of printing fluid applied is always correct andthe printing fluid covers the correct lengthand width in. the position determined by the design. The pulselength is therefore controlled independently of the color pulsetrain.

In the program control means, recorded data for color control determine which; valvesof the individual rows of nozzles are to be opened; data for pulse-length control determine how long those valves shall remain open. Similarly, pressure-control data determines the pressure at whichthe printing fluid is sprayed onto the material.

lf, for example, compressed air ormains current be used for spraying the printing fluid, thatparticular form of supply is likewise program controlled to ensure that the appearance of the material remains the same, even if the speed of the run of material should vary.

For printing very fine detail on fast-travelling material, the rows of nozzles can be pivoted under program control in such a way that the-spray always stays at the same point on the material.

For printing larger areas per nozzle, the rows of nozzles are both pivoted and moved transversely to the direction of travel of the material, all under program control, during which either the nozzle valves remain open or one pulse can be emitted for each position of the nozzle row, so that an individual nozzle is able to print four points.

The control program can be stored on punched cards, perforated tapes, magnetic cards, magnetic tapes, magnetic drums, magnetic discs etc., for each individual color or on any other recording medium. Programming may also be carried out electronically by the use of, for example, magnetic tape recorders to which are fed the pulses from pick-ups employing color-sensitive heads for scanning patterns or originals. Patterns, drawings or originals, or color extracts can, if desired, also be scanned directly by a color-sensitive head, the derived values being converted into pulses in the control part of the equipment. If the resultant pattern is correct, the relevant data is recorded on the recording medium during the printing process. With this program recorded on an endless tape or the like, the pattern can be continuously printed.

In the control program, data can be recorded for all the colors, according to the arrangement of the rows of nozzles, in addition to data for pattern repeat control, tint control, nozzle setting control, nature of nozzle, color pressure and pulse duration. Reading heads in the program control means for the various colors take the data from the program staggered in stages, according to the nozzle tube spacing.

The programs for each color can also be prepared on individual magnetic tapes or the like, which can then be provided, according to the nozzle row spacings, with their own pattern repeat control data and nozzle-row setting control data.

By automatic step-by-step change-over, controlled by a program of its own, from one program to another, the design or color combination can be changed in step with the run-through of the material, without waste or interruption.

The data are picked up by the reading heads in the control unit or optically and are converted into pulses, which are-amplified and then fed through a distributor in series or parallel to the nozzle valves concerned.

When the speed of the material changes, the program also providessynchronous regulation of the color pressure and pulse length.

When the data for all the colors have been recorded on the magnetic tape or the like, the reading heads in the control unit as well as the nozzle rows or groups of rows being constantly in the same position, the repeat is correct.

Control of the valves of the individual nozzles in the rows or groups of rows may also be such that when'patterns, originals and the likeare being scanned, the pickup pulses are fed in succession directly to the valves, after suitable amplification. Bothwhen an original is being scanned for setting up a program and when there is direct control during the scanning of an original, lenses can be introduced for the enlargement or reduction. Enlargement can also be carried out by directly increasing the duration of the pulses.

The pattern repeat at right angles to the direction of travel of the material is either allowed for in the program or arranged by group switching of the valves in the case of direct control from the original.

The pattern repeat along the length of the material can be arranged as desired. By suitable switching, limited insertion of another program section or of control from an original can be made in the course of a program.

Should the color points be very small and required to be arranged very close together, the nozzles for a single color can be distributed over several rows, through which the printing fluid flows in succession, the rows being so adjusted that the nozzles deposit the color points in the desired positions.

The nozzle rows for the various colors can be arranged at any spacing and in any sequence desired. Likewise, the nozzle rows for one color can be disposed between the nozzle rows of the other colors. This distribution may also be necessary on account of the effects obtainable.

The nozzles themselves can be electrostatic spray nozzles, single or multi-jet nozzles or atomizer nozzles and several rows of nozzles can be used for each color. All the rows of nozzles can be connected to an electric mains supply to deposit the printing fluid electrostatically. Suction can be applied to the run of material so as to draw the printing fluid onto the material or to rows of nozzles 9 to 12, and 9a to 120 which extend transversely to the direction of movement of the material 8. The individual nozzles 13 in each row of nozzles are preceded by valves 13a (FIG. 3), which control the flow to the nozzles 13. The valves 13a are connected to a control unit 20 which so regulates the time during which the valves 13a are open that whenever the speed of travel of the material 8 changes, the same amount of color per unit surface area of material is applied at all times.

The rows of nozzles 9 to 12, and 9a to 120 are movable by control members 14 and 15 (FIG. 3). The control members 14 are operable to pivot each row of nozzles about its longitudinal axis, and the control members 15 are operable to reciprocate each row of nozzles along its longitudinal axis. The control members 14 and 15 are also connected to the control unit 20.

The rows of nozzles 9 to 12, and 9a to 12: are mounted in a frame, the height of which above the band 5 can be adjusted by means of positioning screws 19, for example.

Containers 16 for colored printing ink or other colored printing fluids are connected by feed and return pipes to the rows of nozzles 9 to 12 and 9a to 12a. Suitably the container 16 on the far left in FIG. 1 contains yellow colored fluid, while the next three containers in succession contain red, green and violet colored fluids, these being the colors needed for fourcolor printing. The container on the far right in FIG. 1 also contains yellow colored fluid. Inserted in the return pipe from each row of nozzles 9 to 12 and 9a to 12a is a pressure regulator 18 operated by a program in the control unit 20, the pressure regulators l8 acting to draw ghe fluid through the material in the case of control the pressure of the fluid so that whenever the materials having a fibrous nap or fibrous surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of apparatus in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan of a modified form of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view, to an enlarged scale, of part of a row of nozzles in the apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 shows part of one form of magnetic tape for a control unit of apparatus; and

FIG. 5 shows part of another form of magnetic tape for the control unit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in the drawings, mounted in the machine frame 1 are two guide rollers 2 and 3, around which passes an endless, air-permeable, conveyor band 5. The

roller 3 is driven by an electric motor 4 the speed of 60 which can be regulated.

The top run of the conveyor band 5 lies over suction chambers 6, air being withdrawn from the chambers 6 by a pipe 7.

A continuous run of material 8, is drawn off a supply roll and carried by the conveyor band 5 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1. The material 8 passes below speed of travel of the material 8 changes, the same amount of fluid is applied per unit surface area at all times.

The program is recorded on, for example, a magnetic tape 22 fed into the control unit 20. The program recorded on the tape 22 determines the quantity, manner of application and point of application of the color and the design to be printed.

The nozzles 13 in each row are always offset from the nozzles in adjacent rows by one register. A tap'21, is

fitted in every feed pipe, enabling the flow of colored fluid to be switched between pairs of feed pipes so that, for example, the row of nozzles 12a can be supplied with printing fluid while the flow to the row 12 is cut off. It becomes necessary to close the tap 21 when it is proposed to fit a different type of nozzle or when a fault develops in a row of nozzles. For the sake of clarity, the taps 21 in the pipes for the rows 9 to 11 and 9a to 11a have not been shown in FIG. 1.

If, for example, the row of nozzles 12a is associated with a separate container 16, it is possible to change over to another color combination while the row 12 is being overhauled, or the color itself may be changed.

The printing fluid is fed to the rows of nozzles 9 to 12 or 9a to 12a by pumps 17 via filtering means, excess printing fluid being led back through the return pipe into the appropriate container 16.

Between the adjacent rows of nozzles 9 to 12 and 9a to 12a, supplementary rows can be fitted, in which the nozzles differ from those in the rows 9 to 12 and 9a to 12a. These supplementary rows of nozzles are controlled by the control unit 20 according to the program.

In the modified arrangement shown in FIG. 2 groups of nozzle rows are provided, each group consisting of several rows such as 9, for example, connected in series and extending parallel to one another, only one such group being shown for the sake of simplicity. The distance a between the individual rows of nozzles, in each group is equal to the repeat length.

This arrangement of the rows of nozzles, enables the color points to be applied to the material 8 more closely together, because, clearly, the nozzles 13 in a number of rows in the group can be set closer together. In each group, the nozzles 13 in one row are staggered in relation to the nozzles in an adjacent row.

In individual rows of nozzles, nozzles of differing types can be fitted.

As can be seen from FIG. 3 of the drawings, by operation of the control members 14 and 15, a jet of printing fluid or cone of spray can be caused to track from a to b, from b to c, from c to d and from d to a whereby to cover the area thus enclosed.

In FIG. 4, magnetic tape 22 is shown to comprise eight tracks designated A to H. The tracks A to D are intended for the four colors, that is to say for yellow, red, green and violet.

Should it be desired to mix several colors, further data will also be recorded, such data being corrected for the distance between the rows of nozzles.

The track E controls the duration of spraying by the nozzles 13. When the speed of travel of the material 8 is increased, the program is necessarily speeded up likewise. The conveyor band 5 is so coupled to the control unit that the correct relation is produced between the speed of the conveyor band 5 and that at which the program is advanced.

The track F controls the regulators l8 and hence the pressure of the printing fluid. For faster running, the individual data follow one another in closer succession. The pressure can be regulated non-linearly and adapted to the consistency of the printing fluid.

The track G regulates the pivoting of the rows of nozzles 9 to 12 and 9a to 12a. If program-controlled delay be used with the pressure control track, for example, it is possible to ensure that the jet of printing fluid follows the movement of the material 8 precisely and is therefore deposited accurately in dot form. The data in track G can be interrupted to alter the position of the rows of nozzles 9 to 12 or 9a to 12a. Then the rest of the material is sprayed. Thus, it is possible to print transverse ]ines, if the rows of nozzles 9 to 12 and 9a to 12a are pivoted so that the jets of printing fluid follow the motion of the material 8 and the rows of nozzles-9 to 12 and 9a to 12a carry out an axial movement.

The track I-I controls axial movement of the rows of nozzles 9 to 12 and 9a to 12a. When the open period of the valves 13a ends, a command cancelling I the presetting of the valves 13a occurs in tracks A to D, which may be followed by a pause, after which follows the next train of data. This pause may be dispensed with, however.

Should more tracks be required, two tapes can be used, each with a synchronizing track.

In the program a further track can be usedto effect a change to other programs.

The program may also be impressed on the recording vehicle in the form of computer codings. The appropriate machines for reading and control must then be installed.

FIG. 5 shows another form of magnetic tape 22 control unit in the device here proposed. Here the data used in FIG. 4 follow one another in the direction of travel of the tape 22.

The mode of operation of the apparatus described is as follows:

The material 8 is fed forward by the conveyor band 5 in the direction of the arrow until its leading edge lies below the row of nozzles 9 and is subject to suction from the suction chamber 6. The exposed part of the conveyor band 5 does not need to be shielded.

The program for printing the design has been inserted in the control unit 20. The control unit 20 also contains a supplementary program with which, for example, the apparatus can be started or stopped, the programs and colors can be changed without stopping and control can be changed over from a magnetic-tape to a camera and vice versa. For camera control, a color-sensitive picture-transmission camera, 23 (FIG. 1), if provided, this being connected to the control unit 20 and scans an appropriate colored pattern or color extracts.

At the commencement of printing, the supplementary program controls the design program pulses so that only the valves 13a of the nozzles 13 in row 9, below which the material 8 already lies, are opened.

The row of nozzles 9 then prints line by line; and when the material 8 arrives below the row of nozzles 10, the supplementary program releases the nozzles 13 and the pivotal and axial motions of the row 10 for presetting and for opening by pulses from the design program. The nozzles 13 in row 10 thereupon apply printing fluid according to track B next to the color according to track A.

Should-the nozzle-row spacing of the colors not correspond to pattern repeat, the reading head in the control unit 20 scans in advance the data for the color according to track B, until the first line of color has arrived below. the row 10. The data for the colors may also be recorded, on the magnetic tape 22 or the like, offset, so that they can be read by a line head. The data for the individual colors are then positioned side by side, displaced by as many lines as there are between the individual nozzle rows 9 to 12 and 9a to 12a. This displacement, which may be whatever is desired, can be variable. For colors corresponding tothe tracks C and D, the process is repeated as described above. Upon shutting down, the closure of the valves 13a of the rows of nozzles takes place in step with the runthrough of the material.

When changing to another design with the same colors, a second program 24 is inserted into the control unit 20 and is synchronized by the supplementary pro-v gram; then this latter program changes over step from the design program pulses, in step with the run-through of the material 8, as with the starting-up of the rows of nozzles.

For changing nozzles from a jet nozzle to a spray nozzle, for example the design program cuts out the nozzle row 12 and brings the nozzle row 12a in instead, the tap 21 serving to redirect the printing fluid. To be able to change over to other colors without a halt, a second row of nozzles 9a with a separate pump and container 16 is necessary for each color. By using several rows 9 and 9a, 10 and 10a, and so forth, it .is possible to provide color change, nozzle change and fineness of design, and also of faster printing. When the nozzle rows are arranged with 9 spaced apart from 9a, 10 from 10a and so on by one register length, the material 8 can be printed twice as quickly.

The color pulse trains of one pattern are distributed by the program alternated line by line to the two rows of nozzles. Row 9 of the nozzles prints lines 1, 3 and 5 of the pattern, while the row 9a prints the lines 2, 4 and 6. It is always the last line alone which contains data for opening, shutting and cancelling, and this emits the opening, shutting and cancelling pulses for all the preset nozzle rows 9 to 12 and 9a to 12a. Thus the printing speed is doubled, trebled and so on, according to the number of rows of nozzles used.

What is claimed is:

1. In apparatus for printing a continuous run of material movable along a predetermined path a plurality of rows of nozzles, each row extending transversely of said path,

valve means for controlling each nozzle,

a plurality of sources of colored printing fluid,

means for feeding printing fluid from said sources to said rows of nozzles,

regulator means for regulating the pressure of fluid fed to each row of nozzles,

means for reciprocating each said row of nozzles along its longitudinal axis and for pivoting each said row about its longitudinal axis,

program control means responsive to the speed of movement of the material along said path and controlling said value means and said regulator means to maintain the quantity of printing fluid applied per unit area of the material, substantially constant, said control means also acting to control said reciprocating and pivoting means.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising a supplementary row of nozzles interposed between adjacent rows of said plurality of rows of nozzles, the nozzles of said supplementary rows of nozzles being different from the nozzles of said plurality of rows of nozzles and being controlled by said program control means. 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein each said source of colored printing fluid comprises a container of colored printing fluid and wherein said means for feeding printing fluid comprises pump means for delivering printing fluid from said container to said nozzles, and return pipe means extending from said nozzles to said container so that excess printing fluid is returned from said nozzles to said container. 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the nozzles are multi-jet nozzles.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the nozzles are electrostatic spray nozzles.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising means for adjusting the height of each said row of nozzles above said path. 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said program control means comprises a multi-track program tape, and reading heads, said reading heads being arranged in line. 8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein a number of said rows of nozzles are interconnected to define a group of rows, in each said group, the rows extending parallel and the nozzles in one row being staggered relative to the nozzles in an adjacent row.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the distance between the rows of nozzles in each said group corresponds to the pattern repeat length.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said program control means comprises a color-sensitive picture-transmission camera, and

colored pattern means, said camera scanning said pattern means.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said camera produces pulses used to record a program. 

1. In apparatus for printing a continuous run of material movable along a predetermined path a plurality of rows of nozzles, each row extending transversely of said path, valve means for controlling each nozzle, a plurality of sources of colored printing fluid, means for feeding printing fluid from said sources to said rows of nozzles, regulator means for regulating the pressure of fluid fed to each row of nozzles, means for reciprocating each said row of nozzles along its longitudinal axis and for pivoting each said row about its longitudinal axis, program control means responsive to the speed of movement of the material along said path and controlling said value means and said regulator means to maintain the quantity of printing fluid applied per unit area of the material, substantially constant, said control means also acting to control said reciprocating and pivoting means.
 1. In apparatus for printing a continuous run of material movable along a predetermined path a plurality of rows of nozzles, each row extending transversely of said path, valve means for controlling each nozzle, a plurality of sources of colored printing fluid, means for feeding printing fluid from said sources to said rows of nozzles, regulator means for regulating the pressure of fluid fed to each row of nozzles, means for reciprocating each said row of nozzles along its longitudinal axis and for pivoting each said row about its longitudinal axis, program control means responsive to the speed of movement of the material along said path and controlling said value means and said regulator means to maintain the quantity of printing fluid applied per unit area of the material, substantially constant, said control means also acting to control said reciprocating and pivoting means.
 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising a supplementary row of nozzles interposed between adjacent rows of said plurality of rows of nozzles, the nozzles of said supplementary rows of nozzles being different from the nozzles of said plurality of rows of nozzles and being controlled by said program control means.
 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein each said source of colored printing fluid comprises a container of colored printing fluid and wherein said means for feeding printing fluid comprises pump means for delivering printing fluid from said container to said nozzles, and return pipe means extending from said nozzles to said container so that excess printing fluid is returned from said nozzles to said container.
 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the nozzles are multi-jet nozzles.
 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the nozzles are electrostatic spray nozzles.
 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising means for adjusting the height of each said row of nozzles above said path.
 7. Apparatus aS claimed in claim 1, wherein said program control means comprises a multi-track program tape, and reading heads, said reading heads being arranged in line.
 8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein a number of said rows of nozzles are interconnected to define a group of rows, in each said group, the rows extending parallel and the nozzles in one row being staggered relative to the nozzles in an adjacent row.
 9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the distance between the rows of nozzles in each said group corresponds to the pattern repeat length.
 10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said program control means comprises a color-sensitive picture-transmission camera, and colored pattern means, said camera scanning said pattern means. 